The Middle Ages.  The father of English poetry by making the English language respectable  Prior to Chaucer’s influence, literature, science and diplomacy.

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Presentation on theme: "The Middle Ages.  The father of English poetry by making the English language respectable  Prior to Chaucer’s influence, literature, science and diplomacy."— Presentation transcript:

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The Middle Ages

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 The father of English poetry by making the English language respectable  Prior to Chaucer’s influence, literature, science and diplomacy was written in Latin; but Chaucer made English noteworthy due to his social nature and for being a well known government official who served under 3 kings  Composed in every day vernacular (language) which made him appealing to the people

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 Well educated, legally trained and good mannered  A captured soldier in France when serving during the Hundreds Years War  Became a member of Parliament and enjoyed the protection of the King

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 His wife died of the plague and his poem “The Book of Duchess” is written in her memory  His writings are allegorical – and allegory communicates its message by means of symbolic figures, actions or symbolic representation

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 The greatness of the work lies in the language  During a dark and troubled age, his work was comfortable, optimistic, serene and full of faith  Written in iambic pentameter (10 syllables per line)

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 A pilgrimage (religious journey) from London to the shrine of martyr Saint Thomas a Becket at Canterbury Cathedral  The prologue introduces you to the pilgrims – who in turn represent Middle Ages England; and yet today represent all walks of life as well  55 mile journey on horseback  29 pilgrims total  2 stories to Canterbury  2 stories back to London  Best story told gets a free dinner

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 Characterization – process of which the writer reveals the personality of a character  An author may create a character by: ◦ Telling us directly what a character is like ◦ Describing how a character looks and dresses ◦ Presenting the character’s words and actions ◦ Revealing the character’s private thoughts and feelings ◦ Showing how other people respond to the character

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 A story that includes any number of different narratives ◦ Canterbury Tales is a collection of narratives – each of the pilgrim’s tells a story

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 Where does the story begin?  What is the challenge and why does the challenge exist?  Identify the pilgrims and characterize each as they exist within the prologue

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 Without copying the pictures as they exist within the text, characterize your assigned pilgrim as they appear within the prologue  Draw a representation of your pilgrim using symbols, words, caricatures, to depict your pilgrim  What do they say?  How do they act?  What do they look like?  What do others say about them?  What does the author tell you about the character?  Choose one quote from the introduction that best identifies/illustrates your pilgrim